About Our Team
Our staff is here to greet you and make you feel comfortable.
Denise Henke
Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties: I have close to 30 years of experience. I pride myself in taking care of my patients and their families, by giving them a thorough, yet gentle and therapeutic cleaning. I love building relationships with my patients.
Family: Married to Keith who graduated from Lamar University as did I. We have two children, Alyssa and Logan. Alyssa graduated from LSU(2016), lives in Houston, and works for Jackson Walker. Logan graduated from Texas Tech(2022), lives in San Antonio, and works for B&T Glass and Mirror.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, especially outdoors at the beach, boating, and watching live sporting events.
Amy Williams
Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: I assist Dr. Bess with dental procedures. I love my job, my patients, and my work family. I also have over 25 years of experience in dentistry.
Family: I am a bonus mom to son’s Anthony & Devin
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy spending time at the beach, cooking, painting furniture, and spending time with friends and family.
Allison Harmon
Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties:
I have had the pleasure of being a hygienist for the past 27 years. In those 27 years, I have provided patients with great care and have created wonderful relationships that go beyond the dental office.
Family: I have two wonderful children, Hannah who is an esthetician in Beaumont, TX and Hayden who is a lineman.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Our family loves to go to the beach where we enjoy fishing and spending lots of quality time together. When we aren’t fishing, we enjoy hunting deer, turkey, ducks, and hogs.
Emily Hunt
Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties:
I graduated from Lamar Institute of Technology in 2016 and temped in SETX until taking a permanent position here in 2020. As a dental hygienist, my goal is to help patients achieve and maintain good oral health while also having a positive experience in the dental office. I strive to educate my patients on optimum oral health and am here to help along the way. The most rewarding part of my job is the lasting relationships I get to build with each of my patients.
Family: I have been married to my husband, Brentley since 2014. We have 3 children, Maddie, Baylor & Finley. They truly are our greatest blessings.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family enjoying the outdoors, reading a book, or watching my kids play sports. We love spending time at the beach or the lake.
Madi Almanza
Insurance Coordinator
Job Description/Duties: I started my career as a dental assistant, practicing general and orthodontic dentistry, in 2017. In August of 2020, I joined Drs. Duke & Latham as their insurance coordinator. I work on insurance appeals, filing claims, and verifying insurance.
Family: I am engaged and will be getting married in the fall of 2023. No kids, just yet, but my fiance and I have a mini australian shepherd named Finn!
Personal Interests/Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy shopping and spending time with my fiance, Garrett, along with my friends and family!
Paula Stidivent
Registered Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: Paula has been a RDH since 2011 and started working for Drs. Duke, Latham and Rhodes in August of 2020, after her previous dentist retired. Prior to becoming a RDH, she worked in an orthodontic office and in a dental lab. Paula says, “I make sure my patients are informed of their dental health and strive to make sure they are comfortable while in my chair. I have enjoyed getting to know my patients and their families and look forward to seeing them at each visit.
Family: She has been married for 35 years and has 2 daughters and 3 grandchildren.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: She enjoys spending time with her family, sewing, quilting, fishing, and hunting.
Pepper Vincent
Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: I started my Dental Assisting career in 2009. You can find me assisting Dr. Rhodes. I love my job and that is gives me the opportunity to help people and build strong relationships with my patients.
Family: I have been married to my husband, Brian since 2019. We have a beautiful 2 year old daughter named, Jubilee.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: In my free time I enjoy traveling and being outside. Any chance I get to spend time with my family I take it. I always save time to enjoy my hobbies of going to the gym, reading and playing video games.
Donna Eiland
Registered Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: Set up for and assist Dr. Latham with Dental procedures. Donna has been assisting Dr. Latham for 10+ years. Donna began her career in dentistry in 1997 and cannot imagine doing anything else.
Family: Very proud of both of her daughters and their families. Being a grandmother is the absolute best!!!
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Has many interests including travel, music, reading, hiking, river rafting/tubing and much more.
Emily Winder
Registered Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties: Emily graduated from Lamar Institute of Technology in 2012 for Dental Hygiene and has been with our practice since 2015. Her goal is to give quality care while keeping the patient comfortable and ensuring the patient has a great experience.
Family: Emily is happily married and has one son.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: In her spare time, Emily enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, reading, and going on vacations.
Haley Humphrey
Registered Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: Haley became a Dental Assistant in 2012, and started assisting Dr. Latham in 2016.
Family: Haley and her husband, Mike, have a son together, named Everett.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Haley loves to watch football; particularly her favorite team, the Dallas Cowboys. She also loves to fish at the lake.
Jerietta Kennedy
Registered Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties: Jerietta graduated from Lamar in 1991 and has been with ABD and GLL since 2005. She’s involved with patient education, laser perio therapy and x-rays.
Family: Her and husband, Gregg, are parents to two children.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Jerietta enjoys being with family and spending time outdoors. She likes to go to the beach, fish, and go on bike rides.
Kim Guidry
Registered Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: Kim has had over 25 years of dental assisting experience and has been working with Dr. Duke for over 20 years.
Family: Kim is married to her husband, Doug, for 36 years. She has 2 sons, Douglas and Chris, and 2 granddaughters, Mackynzie and Madeline.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Kim enjoys spending time with her family and friends.
Lacey Foulk
Registered Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties: Lacey is from Vidor, Texas. She was on the Brigadette drill team and played volleyball. She went on to graduate from Lamar Institute of Technology in 2014 with her degree in Applied Science. She received the position of Dental Hygiene President, the Outstanding Student award, and the Highest Clinician Merit award.
Family: Lacey is a mother of three girls and she is married.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: In her free time, Lacey likes to travel, workout, hangout with family, and go to church.
Melinda Humphrey
Appointment Coordinator
Job Description/Duties: Melinda started working for the SETX Center for Dental Medicine in 2004. You can find her greeting patients, scheduling appointments, and checking out patients. She enjoys helping new patients get aquainted with the practice.
Family: Melinda and her husband, Tony, have seven children and four grandchildren.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Melinda enjoys the beach and lake; boating and fishing; spending time with family and friends.
Paulette Younger
Financial Manager
Job Description/Duties: Paulette started in dentistry in 1978. She worked in Pediatric Dentistry for 16 years. She joined our team when her previous employer retired in 1998. She left in 2002 to open her own business. She rejoined us in 2009. Paulette loves dentistry and enjoys assisting patients in finding a way to afford their treatment. She can help you with insurance questions and problems.
Family: She has a wonderful husband and two stepsons, Jason and Donny. She has 9 grandchildren, Kylie, Blake, Collin, Addison, Katelyn, Landon Logan, Zac, and Sydney.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: She enjoys spending time at her camp on Toledo Bend and fishing for bass.
Teresa Hartman
Registered Dental Hygienist
Job Description/Duties: Teresa graduated from LIT in 2004. She works part-time doing patient care, periodontal therapy, and x-rays.
Family: Married to her husband, Eric, and mother to two boys.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Teresa enjoys reading, playing dominoes or any other kind of card or board game. She likes to spend a lot of time riding four wheelers, and working outside on her property.
Chae Crager
Dental Assistant
Job Description/Duties: Helping Dr. Duke with procedures and making patients feel at home.
Family: I am married to my wonderful husband Travis with two little girls with one on the way! Jordan (8), Payton (4), and Avery due in July ’23!
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with friends and family and being in the water.
Tania Rayon
Administrative
Job Description/Duties: I have been working in the dental field for 5 years. I’ve done administrative work and currently at Drs. Duke, Latham and Rhodes. I handle accounts payable, check in and check out patients.
Family: I am a mother to 3 children, Ryan, April, and Adam. I also have a Shih Tzu named Beau.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I love reading books and learning new things. I enjoy swimming and weightlifting on my own and spending time outdoors with my children. We love going to the park and playing volleyball, kickball, baseball, and basketball. On my free time I also love to dance and listening to music helps me relax.
Tanya Sims
Appointment and Insurance Coordinator
Job Description/Duties: A few years ago I decided to make a career change to become a Registered Dental Assistant, which led me to this position. My duties include but are not limited to scheduling for Dr. Rhodes and his Hygienists. I also check patients in & out, verify insurance, file claims, and work on appeals. I enjoy greeting and interacting with our current patients as well as helping new patients get acquainted with the office.
Family: Married to my hard working husband, Scotty. We have three wonderful kiddos, two of which are grown starting families of their own with only our caboose still at home. Of course I have to mention our three fur babies
are there too.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I love spending time with my family! We like traveling, hunting, watching sports,
rodeos, lake days and just spending time working on growing our little farm.
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Check out what we do best here.
Periodontics
Periodontics involves all treatment related to the health of the gum tissue and supporting bone. Some of the services in which we specialize include: We provide both surgical and nonsurgical treatment. Nonsurgical is the preferred and our initial treatment. We use...
Adult Braces
When many people think of orthodontic braces, they may believe they are only for the young as an unfortunate rite of passage. Though adults these days are more comfortable with wearing braces, they may not be comfortable with the thought of their braces being seen by...
Orthodontics
Most people are familiar with the metal brackets and wires traditionally used for dental braces. However, a metal apparatus isn’t the only option for straightening teeth and bringing the bite into alignment. At Southeast Texas Center for Dental Medicine, we offer...